PESTICIDES

MAST- Gen. Science

Description Brief History Characteristics of

Pesticides Types of

Pesticides Additional

Information:Typical pesticide

uses in developing countries

Classification by Target Pest

Species

In Wood ... .

In Pet

Products ... .

In the

Pools ... .

In Wool Clothing

.. .

and many others...

A pesticide is any substance used to kill, repel, or control certain forms of plant or animal life that

are considered to be pests.

National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesHealth & Education: Pesticides, Copyright © 2015https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pesticides/#niehs

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

defines pesticides as:“Any substance or

mixture of substances intended for preventing,

destroying, repelling, regulating, or

controlling pests.”

Includes: herbicides for destroying weeds and other unwanted vegetation, insecticides for controlling a wide variety of insects, fungicides used to prevent the growth of molds and mildew, disinfectants for preventing the spread of bacteria, and compounds

used to control mice and rats. National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesHealth & Education: Pesticideshttps://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pesticides/#niehs

It was until the emergence of organized agriculture, when pests

attacked the plants we grew for food and threatened our very own survival, did the battle for the control of our planet begin.

Today, we have far more uses for pesticides. They are essential to the efficient use of our natural resources.

WW2 use of the organophosphate, parathion.

In fact, the overall high standard of living in the US (e.g., abundant food, clothing, and affordable housing) would not be possible if not for pesticides. Pesticides are not without some risk however, but the many benefits are too often taken for granted. Consider for a moment, that we (society) accept a

total and complete ban on the use of pesticides without regards for the advantages they provide, then we must be

willing to accept soaring food and fiber shortages, wood shortages, and outbreaks of long-forgotten human and animal

diseases.

The first aircraft modified for the application of lead-arsenate.

’

’ Just as the benefits of pesticides are

real, so are the potential disadvantages. Although research and education constantly produces safer-to-use chemicals, pesticide misuse and accidents still occur.

These incidents add to the negative public perception about pesticides, and fuels political debate. For these reasons, pest control methods and pesticide usage should always be something we strive to improve.

1940’s advertisement emphasizing the “Great

ExpectationsHeld for DDT.” (Killing Salt

Chemicals)

At the same time, we must be careful to base policies and regulation on facts and logic and not

false perceptions and misinformation. After all, there are always lessons to be learned from history.

Ibis eggs affected by DDT bioaccumulation.

’

Southern Regional Extension ForestryA Regional Peer Reviewed Publication

SREF-FM-010 (Also published as Texas A & M Publication 805-124)Taylor, Eric L., Holley, A. Gordon, & Kirk, Melanie (March, 2007)

http://www.sref.info/resources/publications/pesticide-development---a-brief-look-at-the-history/at_download/file.

Solubility

Adsorption

Persistence

Volatility

University of Florida – IFAS Extension Copyright © 2015 https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi202

Pesticides are often referred to according to

the type of pest they control. Another way to think about pesticides is to consider those that are chemical pesticides or are derived from a common source or production method. Other categories include biopesticides, antimicrobials, and pest control devices.

Chemical pesticides are derived from a common source or production method such as organophosphate pesticides, carbamate pesticides, organochlorine insecticides, pyrethroid pesticides, and sulfonylurea herbicides.

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Biopesticides are certain types of pesticides derived from such natural materials as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. For example, canola oil and baking soda have pesticidal applications and are considered biopesticides.

’

Antimicrobial pesticides are substances or mixtures of substances used to destroy or suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi on inanimate objects and surfaces. Antimicrobial products contain about 275 different active ingredients and are marketed in several formulations: sprays, liquids, concentrated powders, and gases. 

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Pest Control "device" is any instrument or contrivance (other than a firearm) intended for trapping, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. A mousetrap is an example of a device. Unlike pesticides, EPA does not require devices to be registered with the Agency. Devices are subject to certain labeling, packaging, record keeping, and import/export requirements, however.

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ENCAP EA-ESD Course: USAID Pesticide Procedures. visit www.encapafrica.org

In-field crop protection

Dosing of lakes, ponds & lagoons to control disease

vectors

Area spraying for mosquito

and other disease vector

controlStored product

protection (seeds, food aid

crops, etc.)

Household insect and

structural pest control

Insecticide treated bed nets

&Interior household residual spraying

Treatment of export crops, fumigation of

timber

Outbreak pest control – locusts,

rodents, etc.

Livestock tick control-dipping,

spraying, pouring

And other uses. . .

Most pesticides may be classified according to the

pests they kill. The word ending or suffix -cide means to kill. The

following types of pesticides are used to kill specific kinds of

pests:

British Columbia - Ministry of Agriculture: About PesticidesCopyright © 2015, Province of British Columbia

.http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/pesticides/a_3.htm#types

Target pestalgaebirds

bacteriafungi

weedsinsectsmites

snails, slugsnematodes

fishrodents

Pesticidealgicideavicide

bactericidefungicideherbicide

insecticidemiticide

molluscicidenematicidepiscicide

rodenticide

BioTechnology This discussion would not be complete without

mentioning biotechnological advancement made in the agricultural world. Biotechnology, or genetic engineering, can be used to modify the genetic compositions of plants, animals, and microorganisms. Currently, the technology is used primarily to modify crops, although other applications are constantly being development. Some of the most important commercial applications of biotechnology include advancements made in herbicide tolerant, insect tolerant, and virus tolerant crops.

E N DThank you for

listening!